COP28: EU and Honduras join forces to restore 1,3 million hectares of forest in Honduras with a strategic Forest Partnership

COP28: EU and Honduras join forces to restore 1,3 million hectares ...  European Union

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Dec 3, 2023 - 05:00
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COP28: EU and Honduras join forces to restore 1,3 million hectares of forest in Honduras with a strategic Forest Partnership

Forest Partnership with Honduras Signed at COP28

Today, during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), Executive Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič and representative of the President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Forest Partnership with Honduras, contributing to the external dimension of the EU Green Deal and supported by the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

Objectives and Commitments

  • The Forest Partnership aims to restore 1.3 million hectares of forest in Honduras and implement its National Biodiversity Action Plan.
  • The partnership emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and addresses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Executive Vice President Maroš Šefčovič stated, “It is an honor to launch the Forest partnership with Honduras and strengthen our joint commitment to sustainable development. Healthy forest ecosystems are key to fighting climate change, preserving and restoring biodiversity, and bringing prosperity for communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods. The Forest partnership will help to ensure that forests can continue delivering on all these vital functions.”

European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, added, “One year ago, the first five forest partnerships were signed, reinforcing our united fight against climate change and promoting the protection of forests around the world. Today we are happily welcoming the Forest Partnership with Honduras and, in line with the outcome of the EU-CELAC Summit in July, we are committing to working together to preserve forests, conserve biodiversity, and ensure a safe, sustainable environment for all.”

Roadmap and Implementation

  1. In the next six months, the EU and Honduras will develop a comprehensive Roadmap for the implementation of the Forest Partnership.
  2. The partners will explore innovative finance instruments to support the partnership, aligning with the Call to Action of the Paris Summit in June 2023.

Key Focus Areas

  • The Forest Partnership will support the implementation of Honduras’ National Determined Contributions.
  • It will focus on restoring 1.3 million hectares of forest and implementing the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
  • Efforts will be made to increase the area of protected, restored, and sustainably managed forests.
  • The partnership aims to reduce the annual rate of deforestation and forest degradation.
  • Opportunities will be created to increase the number of forest-related decent jobs.
  • The trade of legal, deforestation-free, and sustainable forest products between Honduras and the EU will be facilitated, building on the existing Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

Background

Forest Partnerships are the EU’s new holistic cooperation frameworks for joint work on forests, supported by the Global Gateway strategy. These partnerships aim to enhance the socio-economic role of forests and their ongoing contribution to climate and biodiversity protection.

The EU’s cooperation with Honduras on forest restoration and conservation has been long-lasting, with initiatives such as the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA-FLEGT), a timber trade agreement ratified in 2022 tackling illegal logging and associated trade. It is the first-ever VPA to feature a broad and inclusive consultation process involving all stakeholders, including indigenous and afro-descendant peoples as a distinct group alongside government, civil society, and the private sector.

The EU is also contributing €25.5 million as part of a Team Europe Initiative on the Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica, which includes Honduras.

Overall, the EU has committed to doubling its spending to €7 billion for global biodiversity between 2021 and 2027, with a significant focus on forest conservation.

For more information

 

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